olden

adjective

old·​en ˈōl-dən How to pronounce olden (audio)
Synonyms of oldennext
: of or relating to a bygone era

Examples of olden in a Sentence

What was life like in the olden days?
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In those golden olden days, pop idols were thought of in the most hallowed terms possible. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 7 May 2026 Colder olden days Your grandparents aren't just telling stories: Their memories of snow forts, ice skating on frozen ponds and sledding downhill are real. Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026 In the olden days, a stand-up comedy fan might think to watch two or three specials a year. Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026 One of the world’s largest exhibitions of olden literature is gathering more than a hundred booksellers from across the globe to share their choicest wares — rare tomes, illustrations, maps, historical documents and random ephemera guaranteed to level-up your bookshelf and walls. John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for olden

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of olden was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Olden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/olden. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

olden

adjective
old·​en ˈōl-dən How to pronounce olden (audio)
: of or relating to earlier days

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